The Howard County Search and Rescue Unit (HCSAR) is a non-profit, tax exempt organization. The organization is a group of highly trained volunteers who are responsible for the search and rescue needs of Howard County and it's neighboring counties. The HCSAR team members are amateur radio (ham) operators in addition to their search and rescue training. Their work includes a direct link to the Sky Warn System out of Shreveport, LA and Little Rock, AR. Because of the combination of search and rescue and communication skills, this unit is frequently called upon to assist victims in weather-related events such as tornadoes, floods, ice storms, etc. as well as searching for lost persons in the numerous area woodlands, lakes and rivers. The unit's communication capabilities are also utilized to assist local authorities such as police, fire and ambulance when conventional means of communication have been made inoperable by weather conditions.